I prayed for it. My heart ached for it. But truthfully, I couldn't really see it actually happening. Larry showed an interest in spiritual things but only to the point of curiosity. He showed no signs of a willingness to submit to the authority of Jesus Christ.

My belief in the promises of God is what gave me the faith to believe that one day Larry and I could be serving and worshiping the Lord in unity. The Word tells me that whatever I ask, according to the will of God, I will receive.

John 6:39New Living Translation (NLT) And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.

God knew my heart. He knew the depth and sincerity of my faith. I knew He would hear my prayers and answer them according to His will. It is God's will that none perish. It is His will that He be the center of all marriages - that he is the foundation of families.

Hebrews 13:3-5New Living Translation (NLT) 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. 4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. 5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

My petitions were according to His will. Now, even though I am prevented from occupying the same room as Larry, we are sharing faith. Larry shares with me what he has learned in Bible study or in his daily reading. He asks me about things he doesn't understand. He confides in me that prior to God 'getting his attention', he did not understand a lot about faith - and that he probably would not be where he is spiritually if God had not allowed the tragedy to fall upon our family. He also honestly confides that he has a difficult time understanding why it had to happen the way that it did.

In spite of my sins... in spite of both of our sins, God forgave and chose to bless us.

Thank you Father for our all-knowing and merciful Savior who will see us through any necessary pain in order to bring us into Your perfect will.